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North Ireland coast
Words: Len Rutledge Images: Phensri Rutledge
Stunning coastline, windswept cliffs, spectacular scenery and fabulous unspoiled beaches are the promise on one of the world’s great road journeys. Unfortunately, all we can see at the moment is fog.
My wife and I are on the Causeway Coastal Route in Northern Ireland with high expectations but so far the results have been disappointing. We have crawled out of Belfast and are now peering through the gloom at Carrickfergus’s well-preserved 12th century Norman Castle.
The...

Born to be mild. Brits are happiest at a surprisingly average 20 degrees Celsius.
Chilly winter weather can often have us day-dreaming about tropical heat but a new survey from Thomas Cook shows that we Brits actually feel happiest at a rather mild 20 degrees Celsius.
The survey simply asked, ‘at what temperature are you happiest?’ with a quarter of people opting for a fairly balmy 20 degrees mark. There were some other surprises in the results too. 7% of people are happiest at a sweat-inducing 35 degrees and 1% actually said they...

Halloween Around The World
Marriage proposals in Italy, baking bread in the shape of babies in Ecuador, and burning expensive possessions to appease the souls of the dead in China. Across the globe there some strange but wonderful ways locals celebrate their own versions of Halloween. Thomas Cook has collated 50 of the outlandish laws, traditions and locations to create a Halloween map of the world full of need to know trivia you never knew existed.
Here are a few highlights from around the globe:
Halloween Haters
In Dublin, Georgia,...

The Best Travel Destinations for 2018
Len Rutledge
The travel and tourism industry is booming as more and more people take advantage of low airfares and increased opportunities to see new places. While there has been some resistance to increased visitor numbers in some European destinations, much of the world is still welcoming visitors with open arms.
Here are some suggestions for places to travel and activities to experience in 2018.
The Philippines
Brilliant green rice fields, teeming cities, colourful jeepneys, stunning beaches, and...

The Bizarre & Amusing Translations of Place Names Around The World
It’s fair to say that we don’t always put a lot of thought into the names of places we visit. In fact, unless they are in the English language, we just take them as read.
This point is widely proven across the USA and the UK, where we all enjoy poking fun at some of the truly ridiculously named villages, towns and cities across both nations.
Ridiculous Place Names
Just take a look at this very enjoyable article from The Telegraph which lists 10 of the silliest place...

21 things you didn’t know about London
In recent years, the popularity of London city break has gone from strength to strength. It seems that millennials are doing away with the week beach break and instead favouring three days in one of the world’s great metropolises.
As you can see from this post from UK travel association ABTA, statistics now show that they are in fact as popular as beach holidays.
It’s really not hard to see why either. With more cheaper flights than ever and budget accommodation via Airbnb and other...

Imagine yourself, right now, stood at a music festival of your choice, all of your pals around you, your favourite band playing your favourite song.
Imagined it? What are you likely to do to capture this moment? Of course, it’s going to be taking a photo and uploading it to Instagram, because that’s half the fun of spending a weekend in a field, right?
Accessorize have researched into the most Instagram worthy festivals in the UK, US and Europe and plotted them on a wanderlust-worthy interactive map.
From the wonderful land of...

15 of The World’s Oldest Buildings and Where You Can Find Them
Travelling abroad gives us a chance to experience authentic cultures which can’t be enjoyed anywhere else.
Drinking Guinness in Dublin, eating pizza in Rome or watching a jazz band in New Orleans are great examples.
Authentic cultural experiences are often tied to history. For example, while you can take a trip on a punt or rowing boat all around the world, there’s something extra special about taking a gondola around the waters of Venice.
Venice, along with 99...

Remote tropical destinations appeal to many as a prime choice for getaways. Clear, turquoise water, powdery sandy beaches, palm trees swaying the breeze and plenty of sunshine make for the idyllic location to relax and unwind. While there are many popular places around the world to enjoy the perfect vacation, there are a number of less frequented islands, which offer the chance to avoid crowds. Immerse yourself in local culture and cuisine while enjoying the quiet and laid back atmosphere away from daily life stress.
Cayo Coco, Cuba
Relax...

The Lake District is England’s largest national park and attracts 17.32 million visitors a year. It’s not hard to see why, with stunning lakes, mountains, coastline and historic sites.
The Lakes are popular in all seasons, and are as beautiful in the autumn and winter as it is in the warmer months with any families choose to spend Christmas or New Year in the Lake District.
Here are five great reasons why the Lake District is the perfect destination for your next holiday
1. It’s Beautiful!
With stunning views all year round,...